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EDITOR'S BLOG

KEEPING PITCHES PLAYABLE
Despite the risk of saturation
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

After a spell of intense storms and high rainfall rates, turf professionals and volunteers now face the challenge of preventing saturation and maintaining playable surfaces through the months ahead.

We now have the official attendance figures for this year's SALTEX show at the NEC, Birmingham. The GMA have confirmed that 7,463, visitors came to the show, which is a slight increase on last year’s visitor numbers.

I would agree that this year’s SALTEX did seem quite busy, especially from mid-morning to lunch time on both days – however, the show was held in Hall 17 that offered a smaller footprint with many of the exhibitors having large stand spaces.

But I would definitely say there was a good atmosphere and, in general, there was plenty of good feedback from both exhibitors and visitors alike. All bodes well for the GMA to feel confident for next year’s show that celebrates 80 years of its existence as a member’s organisation.

You can read Geoff Webb, the Grounds Management Association’s CEO thoughts on this year’s show here.

For the greenkeeping side of the industry, we can now look forward to our next show - BTME in Harrogate come January. This will be another opportunity for our industry to come together.

As for the weather lately, it is certainly on the turn. I read with interest Mark Hunt’s latest weather blog where he talks about the recent storm Claudia.

Mark tells us that Storm Claudia gave us 63mm of rain with a rain rate peaking at 29.8mm per hour vs. our two previous flood events of 82.3mm / 286mm per hour and 54.1mm / 78.2mm per hour. For our sector, I believe the point here is that it is the rain rate that causes our issues (and poor local planning / infrastructure of course) when it comes to flooding - or probably more accurately the combination of rainfall and rain rate overwhelming drainage systems.

We are also hearing reports of a severe cold spell and the warning of snow and ice, all transposing to a winter period of weather that will impact the work of the professional and volunteer grounds person.

Saturated pitches

No doubt all this will lead to many saturated winter sport pitches. We are now starting to hear of some matches being postponed due to the wet weather.

Many of these postponements could be prevented if clubs were to invest more into their pitches, both during the construction phase and post construction, and having a robust maintenance regime in place.

However, for many natural soil-based pitches it is more about the lack of maintenance and understanding about the type of pitches being managed. Understanding your soils, and how to manage them, will go a long way to producing a decent playing surface.

Soils can vary in many ways, both physically and chemically, on a local or regional scale. This soil variability gives rise to all the different types, universally classified by soil texture composition. Soil composition (soil texture) is determined predominantly by mineral particles and organic matter content and can be classified by the percentage of sand, silt and clay mineral particle content. The Soil Texture Triangle, as shown on the image, helps us classify the soil type, these percentages are determined by undertaking a PSD, particle size distribution analysis.

The definition of soil texture is the relative proportion of sand, silt or clay in a soil. Most soils contain a mixture of different soil particles. The particles and the soil's structure determine the pore spaces. A soil with a high proportion of coarse sand will contain large pore spaces and drain quickly, whereas a soil having finer sand, silt or clay particles will contain smaller pore spaces, and therefore will drain more slowly.

The strength and permeability of any soil is determined by its structure, soil type, drainage capacity and how well it is managed. Soils will perform differently, governed by the amount of water, root mass and air there is in the soil matrix.

Most pitch problems are caused when soils are saturated and compacted. When saturated, a soil is said to be at its maximum retentive capacity; that is, all soil pores are filled with water. Saturation usually occurs for short periods of time, either during heavy rainfall events or when soil is being irrigated.

Once a pitch becomes saturated, that is to say all the pore (air) spaces in the soil profile remain filled with water, then we are in a situation of the pitch being in a poor state and will be prone to damage. However, the main contributing factor that reduces and damages pore spaces in soil is compaction - caused by compression forces, normally associated with play and use of machinery, particularly during wet weather periods. Over time, these compression forces reduce the pore spaces so that air, water and nutrient flow through the soil profile is restricted, leading to many problems associated with compaction.

The heavier the soil the longer it will take for the pitch to dry out; sandy soils are more free draining than heavy loam or clay soils and, therefore, will dry out more quickly. Drainage Having an effective pitch drainage scheme will help.

A Turfdry installed pitch drainage system

Most modern pitches tend to have primary and secondary drainage systems installed. These systems aid the removal of surface water quickly and tend to keep the pitches playable in periods of wet weather. However, the effectiveness of any drainage system can be compromised over time when the drain runs become capped; it is important to retain a link between the drains and the playing surface.

This will be achieved by regular aeration work and the application of topdressings. Ideally, clubs should be putting on at least 40-60 tonnes of sand per pitch each year.

This not only keeps the playing surface free draining, but also helps to restore levels. Playing on saturated pitches will bring disastrous results. It is often better to postpone a fixture rather than ruin the playing surface for the rest of the season.

Scrummage and line out play are the main causes of damage on rugby pitches during wet weather periods. The severity of the damage will be dependent upon the soil type and the ability of the top 100mm to drain quickly. It is important that, once the game has finished, remedial work is carried out to repair divots and stand the grass back up.

Care should be taken not to further damage the pitch by trying to get machinery on when it is wet and saturated.

You can also contribute to surface deterioration if you aerate during bad weather when the surface is saturated and likely to smear; timing is the key to successful aeration.

There is a wide range of professional aerators for use on winter turf pitches, available as walk-behind, ride-on, trailed or tractor mounted.

To alleviate these compacted layers, we need to consider a range of different techniques and equipment that can encompass the different types of playing surfaces.

The main aim of aeration is to penetrate the soil profile to create new macro pore space. This is achieved by several methods:

Solid tine – Verti drain type vertical punch aerators
Hollow/coring tines that remove soil cores from the soil
Trailed outfield Multi tine spikers (knife / solid tines)
Disc/blade implements (linear aerators / Soil recyclers.
Compressed air aerator systems

It is essential to use a variety of aeration techniques to prevent pan layers being created. This usually happens if you continue to use the same aeration technique set at the same depth, resulting in a compacted layer forming at the base of the tine or core depth.

Most turfgrass managers will, therefore, vary the methods of aeration by changing the depths, size and diameter of tines. To help grass roots sports clubs with potential funding to improve their facilities or buy essential machinery the GMA launched The Pitch Advisory Service, formerly the Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme, that was originally launched in 2014 and is funded by Sport England and the Football Foundation, working in association with the ECB, RFL and RFU.

The aim of the Pitch Advisory Service is to raise the standards of sports surfaces as well as the understanding of sports turf management practices among grassroots sports clubs across England. The programme starts with clubs signing up to a Pitch Power app to record the condition of their facilities with a follow up from designated Pitch advisor.

All in all, there is now a lot of help and relevant information available to help grounds practitioners to ensure they can maintain their pitches during inclement weather events.

NEWS

SALTEX ANNOUNCE ATTENDANCE FIGURES
And look forward to 2026's 80th edition

In our first WEB ONLY the GMA have announced the official attendance figures for November's staging of their SALTEX show.

RAPID PITCH UPGRADE AHEAD OF WORLD CUP
Stadium ready for 2026 tournament

In our next WEB ONLY story one of Mexico’s three host venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has undergone a major pitch reconstruction in a 10-week project completed this summer.

SERVICE CENTRE ADDED BY DEALERSHIP
For professional robotics and battery

Dealer says the new centre, which will offer sales support in 2026, will give them a faster turnaround time for their commercial customers.

Strathbogie Scotland have announced that this month, they will open a new Robotics & Battery Service Centre in Alness - strengthening their support for professional users across the Highlands and Northern Scotland.

Pete McArthur, director of Strathbogie, told TurfPro, "Our new premises in Alness marks an exciting step forward for Strathbogie Scotland and strengthens our ability to support customers across the Highlands. The site is primarily dedicated to our growing range of professional and domestic robotics and battery-powered products, giving us the space and capability to expand these services.

"This investment allows us to improve response times, enhance the support we offer to both new and existing customers, and continue delivering the high-quality service our clients rely on."

Pete went on to explain that they are also actively exploring suitable premises further south to extend these benefits to an even wider customer base across central and southern Scotland.

"Sales support will follow later in 2026," confirmed Pete, "but this is an important first step in expanding our regional presence and ensuring customers receive the highest level of service."

ENGLAND STAR TOM CURRY ANNOUNCED AS BRAND AMBASSADOR
For machinery manufacturer

Manufacturer says through this collaboration, Tom will be test a range of products designed to help him create his own “pitch-perfect lawn” at home.

STIGA has announced England Rugby player Tom Curry as their new brand ambassador.

Through this collaboration, the manufacturer says Tom will be working with them to " . .explore his growing passion for gardening and test a range of innovative products designed to help him create his own 'pitch-perfect lawn' at home."

Tom Curry said, “I’m delighted to be an ambassador for STIGA. The timing of this partnership is perfect as I’m currently in the process of moving house and looking forward to spending lots of time in my garden."

He continued, “I’ve always been passionate about recognising the importance of grassroots rugby - you need strong foundations to grow, achieve, and follow your dreams. That’s why this partnership with STIGA feels so natural. Just like rugby, great gardens start from the ground up.”

As part of STIGA’s wider partnership with England Rugby, the manufacturer says this collaboration with Tom reflects a shared commitment to supporting the game at every level - from grassroots clubs to the international stage.

James Gordon, managing director at STIGA, added, “We’re thrilled to welcome Tom to the STIGA family. His work ethic, reliability, and commitment to performance - both on and off the pitch - perfectly align with our values. Together, we’re championing growth, from grassroots clubs to home gardens, helping people nurture their own green spaces with pride.”

CABOT HIGHLAND PREPARES NEW COURSE
Ahead of 2026 opening

The new Old Petty course is set to open in April 2026, with careful planning and modern technology helping to establish the playing surfaces.

Cabot Highland is set to open its new Old Petty course in April 2026, with its leadership saying that careful planning and modern turf management technology is helping to establish high-quality playing surfaces.

L-R: Mike Turnbull, Reesink Scotland; John Mooney, The Toro Company; Robert Jackson, Reesink Hydro-Scapes; James Hutchison, Cabot Highland Golf Club; Simon Squires, The Toro Company and Jon Cole, Reesink Turfcare.

Course manager James Hutchison, who also oversees Castle Stuart in Inverness, is overseeing the build and turf establishment, ensuring both courses maintain their reputation. The team has introduced a range of machinery and irrigation systems to support precise mowing, topdressing, and watering during the early stages of grass growth.

A fleet of Toro machines, including reel and hybrid mowers, aerators, and topdressers, is being used to manage the course efficiently. James said the focus is on precision - “At this delicate stage, every aspect of mowing, watering, and topdressing needs to be carefully managed to ensure the grass establishes correctly and the playing surfaces meet our standards.”

The irrigation system installed across Old Petty allows targeted watering and accurate application, supporting the growth of the new turf and minimising waste. Reesink Scotland, the UK distributor, is providing on-site support to ensure operations run smoothly.

Designed by renowned architect Tom Doak, the new Old Petty course is part of Cabot Highland’s expanding portfolio and represents a major addition to Scotland’s golfing landscape.

FUTUREPROOFING FAIRWAYS
At Cardigan Golf Club

The club has been tackling the perennial challenge of maintaining healthy fairways on shallow soils, averaging just 3-4 inches over bedrock.

Cardigan Golf Club on Wales’ west coast has been tackling the perennial challenge of maintaining healthy fairways on shallow soils, averaging just 3-4 inches over bedrock.

The issue was particularly acute in 2025, with months of very low rainfall testing the resilience of the turf.

Course manager Stuart Adams says the club has been experimenting with fescue blends to find varieties suited to the site’s rugged, sandy conditions. “We went back to basics and looked at what was native on the fairways,” he explains. “Hard and Sheeps Fescue seemed to cope with our links conditions, so we’ve been using a bespoke mix containing around 25-30% Hard Fescue for the last few years.”

This year, the club trialled a new overseeding option from Johnsons Sports Seed, J Sustain Fairway, which contains 40% Hard Fescue. The results were notable. “As soon as the rain returned in September, the strike rate was incredible - the best I’ve seen from any mix in the last six or seven years,” Stuart reports.

The mix also incorporates Sheeps Fescue and other creeping and chewing fescue varieties, designed to perform in links and heathland conditions while requiring lower inputs of water, nutrients, and chemicals. Stuart highlighted its resilience as a key benefit for the future, saying, “It’s tough and perfect for coping with hotter, drier summers and wetter winters, which is critical for futureproofing our course.”

Unexpectedly, the new mix also seemed to reduce leatherjacket and bird pecking damage, potentially due to the tougher root structure of the Hard Fescue.

Without irrigation on the fairways, the club schedules overseeding for autumn, and the new mix is already part of plans for 2026. “When something works as well as this, it should be shouted from the rooftops,” Stuart says.

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Reesink UK Ltd

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